The mystery genre has long been a staple in anime, offering a thrilling escape from reality. While it may not be the most mainstream genre, it provides a chance for introspection, not just about ourselves, but about humanity as a whole. In this post, we’ll be counting down the top 10 mystery thriller anime that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
10. Madoka Magica
This magical anime follows Madoka, a regular middle school girl whose life changes after a chance encounter with a white cat-like creature called Kyubey. The creature offers the schoolgirls a chance to become magical girls, but at a steep price. Madoka Magica is a methodical and detailed series that explores character growth, symbolism, and even the smallest details in the background.
9. Terror in Resonance
In this anime, Tokyo is victim to a shocking terrorist attack by two teenagers who call themselves Sphinx. The duo launches a series of terrorist attacks accompanied by a riddle, leaving the world baffled. Kenjiro Shibasaki of the police division succeeds in solving the riddles and begins engaging the duo in a battle of minds. Terror in Resonance opens up several mysteries, including the motivations behind the main characters’ actions.
8. Garden of Sinners
This series of movies follows Shiki, a girl who lives in isolation due to her upbringing. When a series of murders occurs in the city, Shiki becomes a prime suspect. Despite seeing her at the site of one of the killings, Mickey refuses to believe that the girl he befriended is responsible. Garden of Sinners is a draining experience that tackles mature issues and features unrestrained violence.
7. Paranoia Agent
In Paranoia Agent, the police are on the trail of a legendary figure called Shounen Bat, who wields a bent baseball bat and attacks people in Musashino. The creator of this anime, Satoshi Kon, is known for his mind-bending style, which makes for a surreal and fear-inducing watch.
6. Death Parade
Death Parade takes place in a bar called Quindecim, where two people enter with no memories of how they got there. The bartender, Decim, crosses the line to play a game with their lives on the line. As the game progresses, more is revealed about the characters, and we begin to see that there’s more to people than meets the eye.
5. Steins;Gate
Rintaro Okabe claims to be a mad scientist, but in reality, he’s just an eccentric university student. After discovering time travel under strange circumstances, he and his colleagues must use their knowledge to stop an evil organization. Steins;Gate masterfully applies its own take on time travel, making it a must-watch for fans of the concept.
4. When They Cry
This anime may seem unspectacular at first, but it’s a unique take on the mystery thriller genre. The story follows a main character who moves to a province and befriends new classmates, but the seeming peace and quiet abruptly ends after he learns about a murder that happens every few years.
3. The Promised Neverland
The Promised Neverland is a recent series about an orphanage called Grace Field House, where the kids live happily under the care of Isabella, the mom of the orphanage. After finding out the truth about the orphanage, two of the smartest kids, Emma and Norman, begin to lay down plans for a mass exodus. The game of wits is something to look out for, and a lot of character development unfolds as the series progresses.
2. Death Note
Death Note tells the story of Light Yagami, whose life changes when he stumbles upon the Death Note, a notebook with the ability to kill any person whose name is written in it. Recognizing the power that’s fallen into his hands, Light begins to purge the world of criminals. The game of cat-and-mouse between Light and the genius detective L is a thrilling ride.
1. Monster
Finally, we have Monster, a critically acclaimed masterpiece that takes the number one spot on our list. The story follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a young surgeon who decides to ignore subsequent orders and operate on a young boy named Johan Liebert, saving his life. Years later, to his surprise, he encounters Johan once more, this time as a murderer being referred to as a monster. Monster is an amazing, well-grounded look at the human psyche, filled with suspense, deep characters, and an intricate plot.
That’s our top 10 mystery thriller anime that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’d like to recommend some other shows in the mystery thriller genre, feel free to do so in the comments below!